Antun Palic analyzed Dinamo Zagreb

Antun Palic, 37 years old, remains one of the most appreciated foreign footballers in Dinamo's history. The former midfielder also wore the “dogs” armband, and on New Year's Eve he had a glass of wine with Zeljko Kopic in a restaurant in Zagreb.

Antun still lives in the Croatian capital, even though he is involved in his new career, that of a sports agent. He is the one who “discovered” and supported the career of Raul Florucz, the Austrian with Romanian blood, who has now arrived at Union Saint-Gilloise, with whom he plays in the Champions League groups.

Then, together with his collaborators, he contributed to the League 1 transfers of Denil Maldonado (from Craiova to Rubin Kazan) and Marko Dugandzic (from Rapid to Al-Tai). In addition to transactions with various Croatian and Balkan footballers.

Antun Palic remained the same balanced man: “It would be good if the Dynamo players don't talk much about the title. They should collect victories, instead”

– Antun, what do you think of Dinamo today?
– At the moment, it looks good. If he brings more good players, it can be an interesting play-off for Dinamo. Good chance to be on top.

– Do you see Dinamo with a chance for the title?
– It's too early to talk about the title. There are several teams with a chance at the title, not just one. It's hard to say now who is the favorite. It would be better not to talk too much about the title. To enter the play-offs well, that's where the big fight is. To collect victories, many.

– What else would Dinamo need to be the favorite for the title?
– It seems to me that the team is balanced, with defense, with Boateng very, very well, with Cîrjan, who if he plays well, will make the difference… And as a team, Dinamo looks good, and individually, each player separately, everything looks good. It can be seen from the outside that there is a good atmosphere in the group, that it has support. There is something positive around the team. And the management seems to me to be doing a good job. Everything depends on them! Rapid and Craiova, likewise, look very good. The championship is not easy to win.

84of matches Palic collected for Dinamo, having 9 goals and 24 assists

Antun Palic would also like FCSB in the play-offs

– Do you have any players to propose for Dinamo?
– I have nothing to propose to them, I took care of other details. Our team did not propose anyone. It's hard to move in winter, it's not easy to find something good. The good ones cost money!

– Do you think FCSB will catch the play-off?
– Theoretically, yes. It depends on what he will do now immediately, one or two stages. It will have a tight pace of matches, but it can be OK for the team. Good players are there. Much depends on what he will do with Cluj, with CFR, next Sunday.

– Will the play-off be more difficult for Dinamo, for example, with FCSB there?
– Not necessarily harder, Dinamo must concentrate on the game. In derby, anything is possible. It would be a nice play-off. And hard, at the same time.

Antun Palic, before Dinamo Zagreb – FCSB: “Miha Zajc and Arbër Hoxha are the best”

– In Zagreb, how is the situation, in Dinamo, how does the match against FCSB look?
– Like a normal one. In Europe, everyone wants to impress. Dinamo Zagreb has 7, FCSB has 6. Everyone wants to win. It's a match that can be vital, for the 24th place, which will take us further into the European spring. Last year, for a goal difference, Dinamo Zagreb missed out on continuing in the Champions League. Zvonimir Boban (n.ed – president) came, changed the team a lot, 15 left, many came. The old ones, who performed, are gone. Others have arrived, doing good work.

– Who are the best from Dinamo Zagreb?
– I say that the best are Miha Zajc and Arbër Hoxha. This is known, everyone is aware of it. Dinamo Zagreb has as good a team as FCSB.

– What prognosis, realistically, would you offer for this duel?
– I wouldn't want to give (laughs). It's a balanced match, Europe, everyone wants to impose themselves, to continue in the competition.

– What would be Dinamo Zagreb's weak point?
– I'm not saying that either (laughs)! There is no such thing. Both teams are good, it will be a balanced duel.

– Then the strong point?
– Those from Dinamo Zagreb are doing well in the championship, there is a period of transition, but it is not visible, that is, it is not visible in fluctuations in results (n.d. Dinamo Zagreb is the leader in Croatia by one point in front of the great rival, Hajduk Split). The strong point… There are several players, I already told you about two, footballers who can make a difference.

Why Antun Palic wants Dinamo Zagreb and FCSB to qualify for the European spring of the Europa League

– Who between Dinamo Zagreb and FCSB do you think can qualify for the European spring?
– I hope that both teams move on, and Dinamo Zagreb, and FCSB, to continue in the European spring. May it be good for Croatia and Romania.

– You are too diplomatic, you always have been.
– That's how I feel. It's not that I'm a diplomat. We, and you, need to show that we have good teams, good footballers.

10 days ago it was full of snow in Zagreb, now it's not anymore. But it stayed cold, everything feels good, now, when I'm talking to you, it's zero degrees Celsius. I understand that in Bucharest it is even more
Antun Palic, former midfielder